Employee grievances addressed at GREF Adalat

Service related issues are not easy to raise in hierarchy-conscious institutions like the army, of which the Border Roads Organisation also happens to be a part. It was hence a welcome development that the BRO organized a GREF Adalat in Gangtok on 16 April to address grievances of its employees. Significantly, this was the first such Adalat of the organisation and following its successful debut in Sikkim, it will be taken to BRO installations elsewhere in the near future. The Adalat in Gangtok, convened at the Project Swastik HQ here was inaugurated and addressed by the Director General, Border Roads Organisation, Lieutenant General RN Mittal.

GMC seeks more time to prep for highway care

GANGTOK, 04 Jan: The transfer of maintenance and upgradation responsibilities along the 16 km stretch of National Highway 10 [the erstwhile NH 31A] from Ranipool to Tashi View Point from the Border Roads Organisation [BRO] to the Gangtok Municipal Corporation [GMC] might take another two years.

Driven by disappointment, anger and desperation, stakeholders march in protest to BRO

GANGTOK, 12 May: Tired of unconvincing assurances and disappointed by the consistently deplorable condition of the North Sikkim Highway and JN Road, both under the charge of Project Swastik of Border Roads Organisation, the people and panchayat members of Kabi-Tingda [for NSH] and JN Road marched out on the road yesterday in a public demonstration registering their annoyance and disappointment. The rally, which was also joined by Travel Agents Association of Sikkim [TAAS] members, walked from Tashi View Point to GREF head-office here at Swastik.
Upon reaching the GREF head-office, the people expressed their grievances and highlighted their litany of problems and complaints related to roads and submitted a memorandum signed by panchayats and people to the GREF Chief Engineer, SS Porwal.
Although, the rally was peaceful, indignation and anger was clear on the faces of the people.
In his response to the people’s submission, the Chief Engineer shared that he realized who serious the situation of the roads was and informed that he has been writing to the head-office repeatedly on this matter. He informed that even he has drawn in issues of national security and special status of Sikkim in his correspondence with the head-office and assured to place the memorandum submitted by the people along with other related documents to the head office in New Delhi.
He mentioned that he is scheduled to leave for Delhi on 12 May to present these issues along with their memorandum and to expedite pending issues.
He informed the people that Project Swastik had not received separate funds for earthquake relief so part of the regular funds were diverted to open roads blocked road by the earthquake and repair other damages. He added that several sanctioned projects were also stuck and suggested that the State Government influence in Delhi be leveraged to pressurize the concerned agencies expedite Sikkim-specific projects
Speaking to media persons, Kyongsla GPU panchayat president, IK Rasaily alleged negligence of JN Road and North Sikkim Highway, pointing out that these two roads have seen no improvement for the past several years. The road widening works had made the situation worse with even more landslides and even more inconvenience for the people.

Get serious BRO!

HIGH COURT NOT CONVINCED BY ‘UNREALISTIC’ PROJECTIONS ON NORTH ROADS

GANGTOK, 02 Dec: The State government has sought more time to file an affidavit in the High Court regarding various aspects of road construction in North Sikkim, including timeframe for clearances. This is in regard to the PIL in the court by the Public and Panchayat of North Sikkim when the matter came up on 20 November.
Earlier, when the matter had come up for hearing in October, the division bench noted that it was not impressed by the compliance report filed by the army road agency. The Court noted that timeframe indicated in the report for obtaining approval/ permissions from various authorities including forest clearance and also the time frame for construction of road/ bridges between Dikchu and Sangkalang “…is unrealistic”.
In fact it had been submitted that Forest clearance would require 210 days while the time requirement mentioned for construction of a small stretch of road and bridges was 4 to 5 years. There were no details as to how this much time is required for the works, the court noted.
The court had then directed that a fresh affidavit be filed as the present one was unsatisfactory. Furthermore, it noted from the compliance report that some local contractors were not responding to the NIT issued by BRO. As such it then gave BRO the liberty to “…engage contractors from outside the state notwithstanding any circular or direction of the state government in this regard”.
The division bench noted that this direction was being issued in the interest of the public of North Sikkim “…who are suffering because of the non-availability of local labourers / contractors.”
At the same time the court observed that security aspect of the area must be taken care of while engaging outside agencies.
The court had also directed that local inhabitants were not to prevent the BRO from widening the Dikchu-Sangkalang road up to 54 feet width. This was issued as it had been submitted that the BRO was attempting to widen the road by taking private land without paying compensation. On this aspect, the court noted that the matter of compensation would be taken up at the appropriate time. The BRO was also directed to increase its manpower for maintenance of the 26 km stretch of Dikchu-Sangkalang road.
The road is a primary link for the people of the area and they have been suffering hardships due to the incomplete and pending road construction. Even land acquisition process had been initiated under court directions for improvement and widening of the road and construction of bridges.
Earlier the court had taken strong exception to the apparent lackadaisical attitude of the administration and other agencies towards their duties and had come down heavily on both the state and army agencies. It had also earlier observed that of the stretch of 21 km of the Dikchu-Sangkalang road only 1 km stretch of black topping was done in one year.
Appearing for the state respondents was the Additional AG while for the central government it was Advocate Karma Thinlay. Also appearing as Amicus was Advocate DR Thapa.

BRO begins blacktopping of Rangpo-Rorathang road

GANGTOK, 19 Nov: The Border Roads Organisation has begun the blacktopping of the Rangpo-Rorathang road in East Sikkim. This work has been taken up by the BRO in addition to its black topping work underway in Gangtok where it has been engaged in black topping of the Ranipool – Gangtok highway for the past almost one year.
In an appeal to the public the BRO has requested that commuters and others desist from using the Rangpo-Rorathang stretch between 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM for the next three weeks.
As informed by the BRO, it will take around 3 weeks to complete the blacktopping of the road stretch which is 10.91 km in length.
Additionally, it may be informed that the Rangpo to Rorathang road was previously under the state PWD and recently handed over to the BRO. The road agency has also appealed to the state police in a letter dated 14 November to assist it in the road carpeting. The police has deployed 2 personnel but apparently this is not sufficient for the BRO to execute its work without interruption.

Lachungpas losing patience with BRO and BSNL indifference

GANGTOK, 30 Sept: The patience of the people of Lachung is wearing thin in the face of the repeated collapse of infrastructure under the charge of Border Roads Organisation and BSNL. Connectivity, both, road and telecom, is seriously challenged in this North district village and the people, even after making relaxations for extreme weather conditions, are convinced that their privation is made more severe because of “ignorance and negligence” of the two agencies.
Pema Lachungpa, a Lachung Dzumsa coordinator, while addressing a press conference here last Friday, said, “By taking lesson from last year’s earthquake devastation, these two organizations should have made some special strategies and should have been better prepared for the monsoon to keep the area connected, but no such strategy was made.” The photographs [alongside] of the roads from Lachung to Chungthang that he shared with the media illustrate the condition of road infrastructure there.
As a result, Lachung has been cut off, both by road and for telecommunication, for the past more than two months ever since a massive landslide tore away the road at Khedum, a few kilometers out of Lachung towards Chungthang. While this stretch, despite attendant dangers, offered the option of transshipment, the rash of landslides triggered by the heavy showers which began on 21 September have littered the Lachug-Chungthang road with more than 30 landslides, at least a dozen of which are major.
Transshipments are no longer an option, and people are required to walk the entire distance to Chungthang now and even the roads beyond it are not open for regular traffic.
As things stand, Lachung has been without roads, electricity or telephone for the last two months and the terrain and weather notwithstanding, the people remain convinced that BRO and BSNL could have delivered better had they not decided to “ignore” the situation, Mr. Lachungpa adds.
To explain his contention in more detail, he pointed out that BRO has not maintained enough manpower, equipment or even fuel for its machines on this axis to ensure quick repairs and timely restoration.
To illustrate this point in starker detail, he pointed out that the back-cutting works for road widening works on North Sikkim Highway [from Phengla above Gangtok onwards] has been underway for the past 20 years and the organization has covered barely 20 kms.
He underlined that the people from his area need to travel to Mangan or Gangtok for medical emergencies and that the disruption of the road has posed severe problems.
Speaking on the communication situation, he informed that Lachung has telephone services for barely a month in a year. In this regard, he mentioned that the people have approached BSNL authorities several times to demand better services but seen no action in this regard so far.
Given the challenges of the terrain, the people remain convinced that fibre-optic cables can be maintained properly and have demanded that the area be serviced by satellite link instead which would make the service “landslide proof”. This suggestion was reportedly turned down by BSNL on the grounds that it would take around Rs 1 crore to install such a system, an investment which BSNL appears uninterested to make. He rued the situation, adding that despite several directions from the state government, these organizations have not been taking the problems of their area seriously.
“If this situation continues, then the people of North Sikkim will hold a meeting to discuss these problems and take some strong action… now, the people will remain silent,” he said.

Still staggering from Friday fury of slides, BRO begins recovery mission

Recovery efforts continued into the third day on Monday at the Rangma Range on the Chungthang-Lachen axis where the 86 RCC HQ was destroyed by a flash-flood induced landslide on Friday evening. The task is difficult, given that the debris is 8 metres deep, 200 metres long and 60 metres wide.

GANGTOK, 24 Sept: The Border Roads Organisation has begun engaging its resources in the restoration of communication, especially, road communication, in the North district from today onwards. This engagement notwithstanding, priority also remains with the recovery of the mortal remains of the BRO personnel feared killed in the massive landslide which collapsed on the headquarters of the 86 Road Construction Company (RCC) of the BRO at Rangma Range about 4 kms beyond Chungthang towards Lachen last Friday. Twelve people, all of the BRO including family members, are feared killed in this incident. Two more bodies were recovered from the debris today leaving four bodies yet to be recovered.
The North Sikkim Highway meanwhile is a jumble of slips and slides of a scale so staggering that the BRO officials are not even hazarding a guess on by when the roads can be reliably opened for traffic. The Mangan to Chungthang axis has 36 slides, while the two roads out of Chungthang towards Lachen and Lachung have as many as 70 slides. With the 86 RCC headquarters completely destroyed by massive boulders, “as big as buildings”, brought down by Barey Khola which broke its banks on Friday evening, even this unit will have to be relocated first.
The series of flashfloods and landslides which have caused havoc in North district is also being said to be due to the earthquakes that the state experienced both last year and this year which destabilized the terrain. BRO officials state that while last year’s earthquake had weakened and destabilized the terrain and geographical morphology of the area, the tremor which coursed through Sikkim on the first anniversary of the earthquake further deteriorated the situation. Cloud-bursts shortly after led to saturation of the slopes and triggered a series of landslides and rains which led to water bodies in the higher reaches bursting as well, it is being speculated.
With the prospect of more rains the BRO has now put up sentries and early warning systems along the potential trouble zones and is also relocating its personnel.
Rescue and restoration works are going to present a major challenge with continuing rainfall and active landslides.
In fact, it is informed that last night too there was a landslide in North Sikkim. The slide at Rangma Range is said to be 200 metres long, 60 m wide and about 8 m in height.
While the BRO has suffered a major blow through his natural calamity there are many who believe that this was in the making. In fact this disaster is being said to be of the same proportion [in what it wreaked on the road network], if not more, to the Earthquake of 18 September, 2011.
It would take a minimum of 4 weeks to restore the roads up to Chungthang. Lanthey Khola and Singhik are informed to be major bottlenecks and the BRO is not venturing a guess yet as to when this section could be restored. However all available resources have been mobilized and the BRO is also getting help from the state government and the army. Following the restoration of communications the agency would begin assessing the extent of damages including in monetary terms.

Project Swastik gets new chief

GANGTOK, 14 Sept: SS Porwal took over as the new chief of project Swastik from Brig Rajiv Sawhney today.
A press release from Border Roads Organisation [BRO] states, “It will be a boon for the State of Sikkim to have Mr Porwal as the Chief Engineer of Project Swastik since he is regarded as an authority in Border Roads Organisation for construction and maintenance of hill roads especially in the North East region”.
He is a highly qualified professional, being an alumni of IIT Delhi (M Tech) and has pursued his masters in Business Administration and MBA (Finance) as well. He is presently undergoing Research work (PHD) in the field of Civil engineering under NIT, Silchar.
Mr Porwal has shown “exceptional resourcefulness in handling unforeseen   situations effectively”, the release mentions further adding that he has been decorated with the ‘Vishist Seva Medal’, Chief of Army Staff commendation card twice and the Director General Border Roads commendation card twice as well.
Since the state is still recovering from last year’s earth quake, the service of a specialist like Mr Porwal is a welcome measure at this crucial juncture, the release adds.

High Court watch gets agencies serious about improving Dikchu-Sankalang road

GANGTOK, 16 Aug: Following directions received from the High Court of Sikkim, the State government as well as Border Roads Organisation have submitted before the Court details of action initiated regarding construction of the Dikchu-Sangkalang Road and other proposals which they intend to implement to improve road connectivity in North district.
As has been reported earlier, the public and panchayats of North Sikkim have filed a petition in the High Court regarding the construction of the Dikchu-Sangkalang road. The Court too had not been impressed with the attitude of the authorities towards their responsibility in providing the villagers with a proper connecting road and had directed that concrete action be undertaken. The road is a primary link for the people of the area and they have been suffering hardships due to the incomplete and pending road construction. Even land acquisition process had not been initiated for improvement and widening of the road and construction of bridges.
On 13 August, it was submitted to the Court that a proposal has been initiated for the widening of the 21 km Dikchu-Sangkalang road stretch and for which revenue authorities, BRO representatives and the villagers themselves were involved in survey exercises. The survey works will also include inspection and examination of road alignment so as to minimize the damage to various residential structures along the road. These include 61 houses, both kutcha and permanent.
Colonel Reddy from the BRO submitted that the survey works would take about a month to complete.
Following the completion of the survey works, the BRO will put up a proposal seeking sanction of required funds for land acquisition.
It was also submitted that the authorities had decided upon three projects which include construction of temporary bridges wherever there were cable suspension bridges in the area for the convenience of the villager; secondly it was also informed that land acquisition would be initiated for construction of permanent bridges and thirdly black topping of the road would be undertaken as well. These projects are scheduled to be undertaken in the coming financial year.
The Court, while appreciating the initiative of the concerned authorities, reminded that regular updates were to be provided to the Court on the progress of works on a monthly basis.
Earlier, the Court had taken strong exception to the apparent lackadaisical attitude of the administration and other agencies towards their duties and had come down heavily on both the state and army agencies. It had also earlier observed that of the stretch of 21 km of the Dikchu – Sangkalang road only 1 km stretch of black topping was done in one year.

Monsoon inundates BRO with challenges

Stones shoot down the Theng slide zone in North Sikkim. BRO proposes to tunnel through this trouble-spot. Officials inform that this project for an 800 metre long tunnel at this spot is an advanced stage of surveys and studies.

RESOURCES BEING HARNESSED TO ENSURE SMOOTH TRAFFIC IN THE STATE, BRO ASSURES
GANGTOK, 11 July: With the monsoon season picking up pace in Sikkim road conditions become the primary concern of citizens as well as government and other road agencies in the state particularly the Border Roads Organisation which is the primary agency tasked with the responsibility to keep the roads free of blockade.
In view of the monsoon and the likelihood of landslides in multiple areas including chronic trouble spots and new eruptions the BRO has dedicated its resources from its other works such as road widening, surfacing, etc to ensuring smooth traffic in the state including in North Sikkim informed Col. UC Prasad, BRO.  Sikkim being accessible only via road this becomes imperative along with the fact that North Sikkim is important for strategic reasons as well.
In fact BRO has proposed to construct tunnels through certain trouble spots including one at Theng in North Sikkim where there is an active slide and which is particularly dangerous as there are shooting boulders and rocks which endanger any clearing activity. Another tunnel is proposed at 13th Mile and 17th Mile on the JN Road on the way to Nathula.
At present, the route is blocked due to a massive slide at 17th Mile which has washed out 200 m of road. Col. UC Prasad informed that they are now cutting into the slide to make a roadway which will be 300 m in length. There is also a proposal for a tunnel at Chisopani along the national highway. While the proposal for the Theng tunnel is at an advanced stage surveys and studies are being conducted for the other proposals of tunnel construction in coordination with the Geological Survey of India.
With an average of 3 landslides daily, especially frequent on the North Sikkim roads, the BRO is hard-pressed to maintain smooth road connectivity in the state especially along the national highway and North Sikkim. Also in view of the tendency of the public to blame BRO for road blockages, the BRO maintains that it has been doing its best in clearing landslides particularly on the national highway where it has been clearing the roads for traffic within hours.
BRO officials give the example of the recent landslide at Biring along the highway where the slide was cleared within 4 hours.  The BRO maintains that it is probably the only agency in the country which can deal with the terrain like that of Sikkim as far as road and bridge construction is concerned especially in the monsoon season.
The BRO has deployed a fleet of 16 JCBs, 16 dozers, 6 excavators, 30 tippers and around 400 labourers to maintain the highway including the North Sikkim highway stated Col. UC Prasad explaining the resources that the BRO had dedicated to maintain smooth traffic along the states roads. With an approximate road stretch of 1400 km including the national highway through and about Kalimpong and the roads of North Sikkim BRO officials explain that they get information by 6 AM each morning on the status of roads from their detachments following which necessary action is immediately taken. Support is also available from the Army when required.
Recently in June the BRO ensured connectivity along the Chungthang – Lachen stretch when the Phimchu bridge collapsed and it took up work on a war footing to make it pliable for light vehicles and then for heavy vehicles as well a few days later. Then again there was a major landslide on the national highway near Singtam which also damaged a hydraulic tracked excavator. The slide was cleared the same day. At the moment, the BRO is dealing with a major landslide at 17th mile on the JN Road to Nathula which has washed out 200 m of road. Restoration work is being carried out on a war footing and is tentatively scheduled to be reopened for traffic by next week, it is informed.

State Board for Wildlife clears 14 of 17 proposals

B.R.O. PROPOSALS DEFERRED BECAUSE NO REPRESENTATIVES TURNED UP; WILDLIFE CLEARANCE ISSUED FOR TEESTA STAGE-IV

ANUSHA GURUNG
GANGTOK, 19 June: The 15th meeting of the State Board for Wildlife was organized by Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management Department today here at Chintan Bhawan. The meeting, chaired by the Forest Minister who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Board, discussed various issues related to the management of forest, wildlife and geographical habitat in coordination with the various stake holders. The meeting also discussed 17 proposals seeking the Board’s clearance, three of which were deferred.
The three proposals deferred for later are- proposal for up-gradation of road at Kupup Tri-junction inside Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim; up-gradation of road at PT 4122 inside Kyongnosla Alpine Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim and the proposal to ban sale of wild Avocado, small bamboo shoots and snake plants in the market.
The first two proposals were not taken up because the Border Roads Organisation, which is seeking the clearance, was not represented at the meeting today. The house did not take this absenteeism too well and saw it as a disrespect of the Board.
Regarding the last proposal, it was informed that the department will first conduct a survey and collect the report and only then take a decision regarding this agenda.
Among the more significant proposals cleared today was the for the one seeking wildlife clearance for the 520 MW Teesta Stage-IV Hydroelectric Power Project , under the Mangan and Dzongu forest range in North District by NHPC Limited. The Board has also stipulated a list of conditions in this regard. This project requires the diversion of 143.4928 hectares of forest land. Clearance for this project was complicated by the Supreme Court directive [of 04 Dec 2006] to the Central and all State Governments that a 10 km radius [as a crow flies] around protected areas be declared Eco-Sensitive Zones. The project comes with a 10 km radius of the Khangchendzonga National Park. The proposal of the State Government to limit this expanse to 500 metres was returned by the GoI for want of more details on land use pattern in the proposed Eco-Sensitive Zone which, it was informed, is being processed.
Also cleared today was a proposal to sensitize the defence forces stationed in high altitude areas with wildlife educational and environmental awareness and protection programmes and revival of Gyamtsona, a brackish water lake in the North Sikkim Cold Desert, which has dried due to human interference.
Taking up the matter of around 30 permanent fixtures [sheds and nursery workers] at the Pangthang/ Lingdok forest area inside the Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary, the Board decided in favour of translocation and directed that alternate construction sites and housing assistance by the State Government be considered.
The meeting also discussed and cleared proposals for the construction of road 1st to 18th kms in length from Sopakha village to Chewabhanjyang via Jorbotay in West Sikkim by the Roads and Bridges Department for connecting the police and SSB Out posts at Chewabhanjyang, amongst others.
The meeting  was attended by Minister Forests Bhim Dhungel, Minister Agriculture DN Thakarpa, MLA Tulsi Devi Rai, PCCF Cum CWLW, Anil Mainra, CCF Wildlife Pradeep Kumar, IFS Conservator of Forest[WL] Gut Lepcha, Commandant SSB, IFS PCCF[JICA]Thomas Chandy, Secretary RMDD, GOC 17 MTN Division Member, SBWL and officials from various other departments were present today.
The meeting started with a welcome address by the PCCF Cum CWLW, Member Secretary Anil Mainra wherein he informed the meeting about the clearance accorded by the standing committee of National Board of Wildlife for investigation and survey for the preparation of DPR by User Agency for the Bhaley Dhunga Sky Walk Project.
The meeting was also addressed by the Forest Minister, Bhim Dhungel while CCF Wildlife, Pradeep Kumar proposed the vote of thanks.
While addressing from the chair, the Forest Minister said that Sikkim stands out as the “smallest but biologically most diverse Himalayan State in the country with both rich and varied wildlife”. He expressed hope that the people become more conservation conscious and refrain from destruction of even the smallest wildlife or its habitat.  He informed the members that the field of wildlife conservation, Sikkim, “against all odds, is the best covered in the wildlife protected areas among other states in country”.
Mr. Dhungel urged the members to go through the various wildlife issues included in the agenda today and suggested that the Board serve “as a vehicle to advise the state government on the ways and means of promoting wildlife conservation and development.”

High Court takes up PIL on North Sikkim Roads, directs BRO to submit details on plans, status and problems

GANGTOK, 06 June: The division bench of Sikkim High Court, on 01 June, directed the Chief Engineer of Project Swastik to submit a detailed affidavit explaining the organisation’s plans for improvement and maintenance of roads in Sikkim, especially those in North Sikkim connecting Dikchu to Mangan.
The High Court of Sikkim has taken up the case suo moto [now a Public Interest Litigation by public and panchayats of North Sikkim versus Chief Engineer, Project Swastik, and others] following a letter written by a handicapped girl complaining of the bad road conditions in North Sikkim and similar representations made by the public and Panchayats of North Sikkim to the Chief Justice Permod Kohli during his visit to the district [on 15 May 2012] accompanied by Supreme Court Judge Justice Altamas Kabir Justice SP Wangdi of the High Court of Sikkim.
During his halt at the Block Administrative Centre Passingdang in Upper Dzongu, the public and Panchayats had made a representation seeking the High Court’s intervention to address the poor condition of roads maintained by both, the state government and Project Swastik.
The Sikkim High Court has directed Project Swastik to file detailed reports on status of roads maintained in Sikkim by BRO [under which Project Swastik falls] adding that most of the roads are of national strategic importance and are necessary for development of the border areas as well.
The Court has also directed that norms laid down for improvement and repairs of the road be placed on record to enable the Court to “crease out” the difficulties of the Project Swastik and other respondents and to issue “effective directions”.
The back-cuttings, upgradation and maintenance of North Sikkim highways were initiated in the year 2005 and have still not even halfway through with the concerned agencies claiming various difficulties including forest clearance and financial constraints and labour shortages.
The Commander of 758 Border Road Task Force (BRTF) filed details of the works taken up by Project Swastik and BRTF and their present status. Col. PH Reddy, who was present on the Court had explained the difficulties faced by the executing agencies in undertaking repairs, upgradation and maintenances of border roads.
The High Court, while appreciating the difficulties, also opined that the carpeting of roads in phases definitely creates a lot of problems. “By the time the entire road is carpeted, the initial carpeting is broken and damaged due to vagaries of weather and its users,” the bench observed.

High Court finds pace of BRO work too slow

CONCERNED AUTHORITIES ADVISED TO CONSIDER PASSING APPROPRIATE ORDERS TO ENSURE NO HINDRANCE TO HIGHWAY REPAIRS AND UPGRADATION
GANGTOK, 29 May: The Sikkim High Court has recorded dissatisfaction with the pace of work on highway repair and restoration being carried out by Project Swastik of the Border Roads Organsiation in the State. A division bench of the High Court, in fresh directions to the Ministry of Surface Transport and Project Swastik, has sought a fresh comprehensive and detailed report within a month. BRO is submitting its quarterly reports in the Court on the status and pace of work undertaken in Sikkim including on the National Highway 31-A.
The Sikkim High Court had taken up a PIL suo moto on the poor condition of NH-31A and other border roads in Sikkim in the year 2010 and, in orders passed in 2011, directed the BRO to submit quarterly progress reports.
The division bench of Chief Justice Permod Kohli and Justice SP Wangdi, in its order passed yesterday, observed that “the pace of progress is either too slow or static at the same place,” adding the in some cases, even though the required sanctions were accorded in the year 2009, the progress is “not encouraging except few items”.
Regarding the NH-31A, the Court observed that some of the works, though approved have not even commenced.
The Central government Standing Counsel Karma Thinlay submitted that in some of the works, the State Forest Department has not given clearance and in some of the cases [for areas falling in West Bengal] clearance from National Wild Life Board is waited.  
The High Court has directed the State Government to clear all the proposed projects/ issues pending with the State Forest Department for grant of clearance for widening and upgradation of roads wherever it has been asked for.
The Court has also directed all authorities “whether under the Government of India, West Bengal or State of Sikkim” consider passing “appropriate orders to ensure that no hindrance is created in widening, upgradation of National Highway 31-A and other various roads for which various works have been undertaken by GREF and state Public Works Department.”
Project Swastik has identified 26 “most troublesome spots” which, it states, are being constantly monitored since the 18 September Earthquake of last year.
Meanwhile, Project Swastik has submitted an initial estimate of Rs. 100 crores to the Centre for full restoration of damaged roads along the JN Marg and North Sikkim Highway. It has also proposed three tunnels - one of 600 metres at Theeng on North Sikkim Highway and two of 1.5 kms length each on JN Marg - at an estimated cost  of around Rs. 160 crore, in addition to repairs of damage caused by the earthquake.
BRO sources add that undertaking back-cutting and widening works on National Highway 31-A at night [to avoid traffic snarls] was not feasible because of the increased risk of working in darkness.

BRO to construct 11 road tunnels, two in Sikkim

GANGTOK, 16 April: The Central Government is planning to construct a set of 11 tunnels to improve road reliability along the China and Pakistan borders, reports suggest. Two of these tunnels, the reports inform, are proposed in Sikkim. These tunnels are to be built in ‘strategically important’ road stretches close to the China border. As per reports these are to be all-weather tunnels to be constructed by the Border Roads Organisation and are planned and intended to help rapid mobilization of troops and equipment besides providing better connectivity to local residents.
It is reported that the BRO is likely to undertake the feasibility study of the proposed tunnels in Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh. The road network along the border with China has been left largely under-developed, a policy which has its roots in the belief that better road network could help the Chinese forces to spread in case of an invasion. In fact, at a recently held meeting both at the central and state levels, this was expressed on the part of the army establishment as a reason why road networks along the border regions in Sikkim had not been developed, inform sources.
However, now it is informed that this doctrine has been changed and several road development works are being undertaken by the BRO, which is funded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). In fact, it is funds from this Ministry which has enabled the BRO to undertake the black-topping works currently underway along the NH 31A. As regards this, BRO officials inform that the black-topping works are expected to be completed by July this year. This work was actually scheduled to be undertaken in 2013.
As for tunnels, 2 all-weather tunnels are planned for Sikkim, reportedly located 19.3 and 24.6 kms from the border with China. As per reports, an 800 metre long tunnel is also expected to be constructed at Rangpo.
A BRO presentation made to the highways ministry earlier this year shows that the completion of strategic roads has so far been unsatisfactory. Out of the 18 strategic roads totaling 1,693km, only four (102km) have been completed so far. Work on about 1,096 km remains in progress. The BRO faces hardship in mobilization of men and material and they execute the projects under tough conditions.
At a review meeting on the progress or road projects under BRO earlier this year, the road construction wing of the Army told the highways ministry officials that the feasibility studies of projects are under progress. Two of them - the 12km Zojila and the 6.5km Z Morh tunnels - fall in Jammu and Kashmir and are crucial for connectivity between Srinagar and Leh. These two regions often remain cut off during winter as snow covers the highway connecting the regions. The third project has been planned near Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand.
The BRO is also to take up construction of two tunnels, totaling 25.4km on Balipara-Charduar-Tawang road that would improve connectivity to Tawang region throughout the year.

Addl CS calls emergency meeting to discuss infrastructure status in North Sikkim

GANGTOK, 12 April [IPR]: An emergency meeting was convened by Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Home Secretary today in the Conference Hall, New Secretariat.
The meeting which focused on the North district issue was attended by the representatives of Border Roads Organization, Reserved Bank of India, State Bank of India, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd., Food & Civil Supplies Department, STCS and D.C. (North).
The Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Home Secretary specifically issued directions keeping in mind the oncoming monsoon and that North Sikkim has been shaken by the earth quake of 18th September, 2011. She directed all the officers present in the meeting to ensure on emergency basis to cater to the public of North Sikkim that the necessary services with regard to telecommunication, road networking essential commodities including the supply of LPG and banking facilities should be restored and made available to the public of North Sikkim immediately.
D.C. (North) was specifically directed to tie up with the Officers of Reserve Bank of India, State Bank of India, Border Road Organization and Food & Civil Supplies Department and to ensure that all essential services are made available to the public of North Sikkim. She also directed Secretary, Food & Civil Supplies to tour North Sikkim and ensure the Buffer Stock of essential commodities are provided in respective godowns.
Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Home Secretary noted the various problems of BSNL and banking facilities and that of Food & Civil Supplies Department and ensured that their problems would be brought to the notice of the State Government and whatever assistance and support that is required will be taken up through the State Government.

Centre sanctions BRO road projects in Sikkim

GANGTOK, 15 Jan: At long last, the Central government has approved, sanctioned and given the green signal for implementation of several road construction works in Sikkim. The roads where construction and improvement in terms of widening and strengthening are to be undertaken are all under the charge of the Border Roads Organisation.
A press release issued by the BRO informs that the Centre has approved the detailed project reports of two road projects, one of which includes construction along the National Highway 31 A. Another DPR approved by the Centre relates to the proposal for consultancy services for preparation of a Detailed Project Report for construction of a 1000 metre span viaduct at Rangpo for Rs. 1.5 crore.
The works to be undertaken on the national highway include widening of road between Kalijhora and Rambi, both of which are on the West Bengal part of the highway. These widening works have been given the go ahead and for which the central ministry is informed to have sanctioned Rs.51 crore. The other project approved and sanctioned includes the strengthening of the pavement from Ranipool to Gangotk for which Rs.17 crore has been approved and sanctioned. This work too will be undertaken by the BRO, it is informed.
The BRO press release states that its agency Swastik has been working on these projects for the past one and a half years with relentless efforts to get the sanction of the central ministry. With the approvals and sanctions coming through the agency is now preparing to execute these projects. it is informed that the first two projects will be undertaken shortly the third one will come through only when the consultant submits the DPR after which the estimates have to be approved by the sanctioning authority.

Residents ‘notice’ gap in Tumin Bridge, BRO checks and assures it is stable

MANGAN, 04 Jan: The collapse of a barely three year old bridge [Rangchang] last month has ensured that people look out for warning signs more closely and seeking technical opinion the moment they suspect that structural strength has been compromised. Such a development visited Tumin under Rakdong-Tintek Block in East Sikkim here today.

BRO files FIR against transporter over Rangchang Bridge collapse

SP ASSURES THOROUGH INVESTIGATION

GANGTOK, 21 Dec: The Border Roads Organisation has joined in the number of parties who have filed FIRs with the Singtam Police over the 19 December collapse of the Rangchang Bridge which resulted in the death of eight people. SP East, Dr. MS Tuli, confirmed the BRO FIR filed by its executive head which looks after the Singtam-Dikchu stretch of the highway.

BRO to restore Old Rangchang Bridge for traffic

Repair work gets underway on the old Rangchang bridge

GANGTOK, 20 Dec: The top priority of the Border Roads Organisation, under which is the Garrison Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) falls, is to restore connectivity to North Sikkim though Singtam via Dikchu as it is a vital link for the locals as well as power developers and not least the army.

High Court takes exception to casual approach of Central agencies to Sikkim’s road network requirements

MINISTRY OF SURFACE TRANSPORT AND BRO DIRECTED TO PRIORITIZE SIKKIM’S URGENCY, USE WINTER WORKING SEASON EFFECTIVELY TO IMPROVE ROADS

GANGTOK, 01 Dec: The High Court of Sikkim has taken exception to the apparently casual approach of the Central government, namely the Ministry of Surface Transport and the Director General, Border Roads Organisation, to Sikkim’s urgent and long pending requirement of a proper road network particularly an all-weather national highway.